| BUA
studied visual art at the High School of Music and Performing
Arts (“Fame”) and complemented his education
on the streets by writing graffiti and performing worldwide
with breakdancing crews such as The New York Express and
The Dynamic Breakers. At 16, BUA performed with The New
York Express in a show created by famous choreographer Julie
Arenal (“Hair”). The show toured all over the
world including the Spoleto Festivals in Charleston, South
Carolina and Spoleto, Italy where he performed with Rudolf
Nureyev. After high school, BUA went on to the Art Center
College of Design in Pasadena, California where he earned
a B.F.A in Illustration. There, BUA learned the technical
skills that allowed him to unleash his creativity.
BUA
started his career doing slick bottom paintings for the
skateboard industry. He came out with a line of fine art
posters and quickly made his way into the commercial freelance
world. He created numerous CD covers for companies such
as Warner Bros., Atlantic Records, Sony Music and BMG Music,
as well as advertising work for clients like Weiden and
Kennedy and The Nike Corporation. In 1999, BUA animated
the opening title sequence for MTV's “The Lyricist
Lounge Show”. Then, in a process that took over two
years, BUA conceived, created and wrote “Urbania”,
an animation series for Comedy Central. BUA went on to develop
the characters and backgrounds for the EA Sports video game,
“NBA Street.” He then created the world for
Slum Village’s award winning music video, “Tainted”.
BUA recently teamed up with EA Sports again as the visual
consultant for their new best-selling game, “NFL Street”.
BUA’s latest collaboration with PF Flyers brought
art onto the streets with his limited edition shoe line
released in May 2004. The shoe line sold out within hours
of its release and BUA will release his second shoe line
and his first apparel line in 2005.
BUA’s
book, tentatively entitled BUA: The Beat of Urban Art is
currently in production. BUA also teaches Figure Drawing
in the Fine Arts Department at the University of Southern
California (USC).Hip-Hop has clearly become one of the most
prevalent cultural movements of our ear as it permeates
all facets of global culture from media, music, and fashion
to the language we use. BUA’s understanding of the
origin and evolution of Hip-Hop makes him the urban art
icon he has become. As Crazy Legs says: “BUA’s
art is representative of today’s ethnically diverse
urban culture. He has a complete grasp of all the elements
of Hip-Hop and the inner feeling of its music. BUA truly
represents the Hip-Hop movement: the most popular culture
of our era.”BUA’s audience is a diverse group
that ranges from street kids to former US Presidents, graffiti
writers to fine art connoisseurs, rap fans to jazz aficionados.
His line of poster is a best-seller in the US and Canadian
college markets. |